Handscrew Clamp Threaded Rod Help

[jonshonda]

I bought a bunch of old Jorgensen and Cincinnati Tool Co Handscrew clamps, and one of the larger clamps 18" threaded rods are bent beyond repair. Wondering if anyone knows a good source for threaded rod that has both Left Hand and Right Hand threading?

I see Lee Valley has a kit from Dubuque Clamp works, but the threaded rod is a little short.

Pic for reference
Clamp by Jon S, on Flickr

 

[Dumber than lumber]

McMaster Carr is the place I would try.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Up until the ceased operations in Chicago a few years ago, I would have suggested going to the plant on Ashland avenue to get some new screws.

Now they are distributed through Arrow Fasteners - not sure if they are still made in the US, but you can try contacting them:
800.776.2228
[email protected]

If that doesn't pan out, you may want to try straightening what you have (gently). The screws are mild steel - not hardened.

Good luck

 

[jonshonda]

McMaster Carr is the place I would try.

Nuthin'

Up until the ceased operations in Chicago a few years ago, I would have suggested going to the plant on Ashland avenue to get some new screws.

Now they are distributed through Arrow Fasteners - not sure if they are still made in the US, but you can try contacting them:
800.776.2228
[email protected]

If that doesn't pan out, you may want to try straightening what you have (gently). The screws are mild steel - not hardened.

Good luck

Interesting. There is a pretty sharp bend in the rods, which made it very difficult to remove the rods once I took the handles off= marred up rods!

 

[PugetDude]

This is probably a case of the repair costing more than a replacement.

One thought, though. Might see if you can scavenge a rod/nut out of a cheap HF clamp to replace the ruined set in your Jorgensen clamp- since the HF is essentially a copy of your original. I'd look into that before I tossed the old one.

 

[larry_g]

If you can determine the thread and pitch you can get threaded rod in right and left helix. Get the correct ones and weld them together in the center to make your own.
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/06050140

lg
no neat sig line

 

[exmaxima1]

This is probably a case of the repair costing more than a replacement.

One thought, though. Might see if you can scavenge a rod/nut out of a cheap HF clamp to replace the ruined set in your Jorgensen clamp- since the HF is essentially a copy of your original. I'd look into that before I tossed the old one.

+1
Best way.

 

[jonshonda]

This is probably a case of the repair costing more than a replacement.

One thought, though. Might see if you can scavenge a rod/nut out of a cheap HF clamp to replace the ruined set in your Jorgensen clamp- since the HF is essentially a copy of your original. I'd look into that before I tossed the old one.

I agree that costs are very close, but these have so much character for being used, it's hard to just shelf the non working one. I've got (2) 16", (2) 12", and (2) 8", and my OCD would just piss me off if the pairs didn't look right hanging on the peg board. I was thinking about buying an el cheapo too, but hate to have cheap china junk metal in a old vintage US made part like this.

If you can determine the thread and pitch you can get threaded rod in right and left helix. Get the correct ones and weld them together in the center to make your own.
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/06050140

Not a bad idea either. They are ACME threads, no easy local solution for material.

 

[PugetDude]

I was thinking about buying an el cheapo too, but hate to have cheap china junk metal in a old vintage US made part like this. .

Maybe you can console yourself with the knowledge that the Chinese clamp was made from reclaimed old US iron... and put the clamp to work instead of working on the clamp.

 

[Cooter Brown]

If you look closely you'll see that the Jorgensens are double lead threaded. A single lead threaded rod, even if you could get one with left and right hand threads, won't work.

The Dubuque are probably double lead threaded too. I've never seen one in person but they look really nice.

You're going to have a heck of a time finding a replacement that isn't made for that particular purpose.

Best bet would be to call whoever is marketing Jorgies now, or maybe even better call Dubuque. I get the impression Dubuque is a small family operated deal.

Those style are my favorite type clamps for woodworking.

 

[exmaxima1]

If you look closely you'll see that the Jorgensens are double lead threaded. A single lead threaded rod, even if you could get one with left and right hand threads, won't work.

The Dubuque are probably double lead threaded too. I've never seen one in person but they look really nice.......
.

According to their website, the larger Dubuque clamps (>8") also employ acme threads, which are better for heavier loads and clog less from sawdust.

 

[jonshonda]

Best bet would be to call whoever is marketing Jorgies now, or maybe even better call Dubuque. I get the impression Dubuque is a small family operated deal.

I did call Dubuque and they emailed me the specs of their hardware kits. They were different enough that I decided no to pursue purchasing them.

According to their website, the larger Dubuque clamps (>8") also employ acme threads, which are better for heavier loads and clog less from sawdust.

I'm surprised they all don't have acme threads. I got a nice lesson from one of our machinists yesterday about the in's and out's of ACME threads.

 

[PugetDude]

I did call Dubuque and they emailed me the specs of their hardware kits. They were different enough that I decided no to pursue purchasing them.



I'm surprised they all don't have acme threads. I got a nice lesson from one of our machinists yesterday about the in's and out's of ACME threads.

Buy a set of RH/LH acme thread dies and cut your own from a length of cold rolled steel rod.
Just make sure the rod didn't come from China...

 

[pfaustus]

Been there (except for taking the handles off part) and did this: Vise grip on center where the threads change to get it apart. Then bend it back straight with a hammer and wood blocks. The metal is soft and the mechanism doesn't require a whole lot of precision. Cost is nothing to try.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Been there (except for taking the handles off part) and did this: Vise grip on center where the threads change to get it apart. Then bend it back straight with a hammer and wood blocks. The metal is soft and the mechanism doesn't require a whole lot of precision. Cost is nothing to try.

Best thing to do. Again, these are double lead (or double start) threads. I'm no machinist but I think the only way to cut those is on a lathe.

 

[larry_g]

Best thing to do. Again, these are double lead (or double start) threads. I'm no machinist but I think the only way to cut those is on a lathe.

If these are 2 start acme then search out 2 start acme threaded rod. NOT cheap but available from many places.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jonshonda]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...other then buying left and right hand threaded ACME rods that would need to be welded together, I found nothing that would be a cost effective solution. So I took the suggestion of a few posters and cold worked the rods in a vise..with my bare hands!! ewwwww......ahhhhh.

Got it back together and I think it will do for now, but could use a little more fiddling with if time permits.

 

[PugetDude]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys...other then buying left and right hand threaded ACME rods that would need to be welded together, I found nothing that would be a cost effective solution. So I took the suggestion of a few posters and cold worked the rods in a vise..with my bare hands!! ewwwww......ahhhhh.

Got it back together and I think it will do for now, but could use a little more fiddling with if time permits.

Hard plastic mallet on a slab of oak; tap-tap-tap-1/4 turn, tap-tap-tap, 1/4 turn etc. until it's straight. A shallow V-groove in the oak will help keep it straight.

 

[jonshonda]

Hard plastic mallet on a slab of oak; tap-tap-tap-1/4 turn, tap-tap-tap, 1/4 turn etc. until it's straight. A shallow V-groove in the oak will help keep it straight.

Great idea!

 

[Packard V8]

I just never got into using these, I use F clamps, bar clamps, pipe clamps and C clamps by the 100's, but never use the wooden jorgensen clamps. They always seemed clumsy and hard to adjust and I guess I'm must impatient.

For true, wood handscrew clamps are clumsy and difficult to adjust until one uses them enough for the adjusting motions to become muscle memory.

There are some woodworking clamping sizes, shapes and angles that they just do better than any other style clamp.

Then, there's that the jaws are always wood. With a pipe clamp, one must have the soft covers. With a steel C-clamp some accommodation must be made to prevent marring the workpiece.

one of the larger clamps 18" threaded rods are bent beyond repair.

Finally, how does an idiot manage to terminally bend the screws? I've got all sizes I've used for fifty years and never, ever, bent a screw.

jack vines

 

[jimreed2160]

Hard plastic mallet on a slab of oak; tap-tap-tap-1/4 turn, tap-tap-tap, 1/4 turn etc. until it's straight. A shallow V-groove in the oak will help keep it straight.

Great idea. Another is to use some of your other clamps. I have straightened out vise handles using my long I bar Jorgenson clamps and wood blocks.